A new year - what may it hold?!

Yesterday, as I searched for a parking space in the West End of the city of Glasgow (finding the crock of gold at the end of a rainbow is marginally easier!) that I noticed the very large sign that proclaimed "The Messiah has come"! Well, as I had just celebrated the annual Christmas season, when many of us remember the incarnation of Almighty God as a helpless infant, more than 2,000 years ago, I couldn't disagree. However, what was surprising was that the sign was on a building that is used as a mosque! It also had a picture of a bearded male who, it would appear, was the "messiah" to whom reference was made.

A few days ago, a newspaper made the statement: "The Bible indicates that the Rapture could come at any time and you will not be expecting it, ..." With that statement, I had no problem at all. My difficulty is with those who claim to know the date and time of the Rapture!

At this time of year, many people make predictions about the year that is about to commence (and has already commenced in some parts of the world!). However, many predictions have been shown to be totally wrong. For example, almost 150 years ago, the Chief Engineer of the British Post Office, stated that while Americans may have need of the new-fangled telephone, the British had no such need - because there were plenty of message-boys! One wonders what that gentleman's reaction would be today when, it seems, no-one is able to go anywhere without a mobile telephone!

Another prediction from the past (the only ones that we can truly 'judge'!) was that "Television won’t be able to hold on to any market it captures, after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night." It's hard to believe that those words were spoken by Daryl Zanuck, a film producer and co-founder of 20th Century Fox!

We are living, of course, in a time of greater change than has been experienced in, almost certainly, the recorded history of mankind. As we look around, we are made aware of great changes in the natural world - earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis. In social life, I am informed that one's birth-gender is irrelevant, as one may "choose" one's gender! The outcome of that kind of change is biological men competing in women's sports events; biological men using female changing rooms; insisting on being transferred to female prisons. I see the political élite being challenged by the "ordinary" people. I am reminded of the words of the hymn-writer: "Change and decay in all around I see" - and I wonder what Henry Francis Lyte would think in our contemporary situation!

However, there is that which is unchangeable! The author of the New Testament Letter to Hebrews disciples of Jesus noted that: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (13:8). In  the Tanakh (the Old Testament), we read the words of Almighty God as given to the prophet Malachi: "I the Lord do not change." (3:6). 

The other "tradition" for many, at this time of year, is that of making "new year resolutions"! The only such resolution that I ever made, and kept for more than a few weeks, was many years ago when I resolved never to make another new year resolution!

If you are going to make a resolution for 2019, and have not yet accepted the salvation from sin, and sins, that is offered through the Lord Jesus, the Christ, may I encourage you to come to Him, in repentance and faith; receive the new life that is available through Him; and discover that His words are true: "I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matt 28:20).

A very happy New Year to all.

More on apartheid in the modern State of Israel.

Although this blog is, primarily, a Christian ministry blog, I do publish posts on a variety of other topics. One of those concerns the negative press given to the State of Israel and to the Jewish people, by those who are too blind - or too bigoted - to see the truth! I often see material that claims that Israel is an "apartheid" state, just like the pre-Mandela South Africa. This is, of course, totally untrue, and an insult to those who suffered under the apartheid regime in South Africa.

These two pictures, sent by a friend, speak volumes. Look; consider; and realise that, while the State of Israel is not perfect (there are a number of the government's policies with which I, personally, totally disagree), it is most definitely NOT operating any policy of apartheid!

Getting it right!

Having read over the previous post again, I became aware that it was not as clear as I had intended it to be! So, in order to provide some clarification, permit me to offer the following.

1. One must always be very cautious when seeking to use a human situation as an analogy of the Creator of all that exists.

2. God's love is, as John 3:16 declares, directed at every human being who has been, or will be, created.

3. The real difference is not in God's love, but in our eternal destiny. If I respond, positively, to the love of God by acknowledging, and confessing my sins (not simply my sinful nature, but the individual sins that I commit every day); coming to Him in repentance and faith; accepting the salvation that was gained for me at Calvary; and allowing God the Holy Spirit to do His sanctifying work in my life (i.e. make me more like Jesus); then I become His born-again, adopted, child. I have entered into a new relationship with Him that enables me to return love. "We love, because He first loved us." (I John 4:19).

I do hope that the above helps to remove any confusion that there might have been. However, as always, please feel free to contact me if you have a question.

Blessings, and shalom.

Love ----- or lust?

It was one of those "photo-articles" that regularly appear in my on-line newspaper. It referred to many female celebrities of screen and stage from the days when I was a much younger man!! I browsed through them, and was genuinely surprised at the change in appearance of so many! Women who, forty years ago, I would have considered to be very attractive, even beautiful, were - in my eyes - no longer so!

I didn't need either old photographs, or contemporary ones, of another female - one who is well-known to me. I refer, of course, to my wife! Now, she has certainly changed in her appearance through the intervening years. However, to me, she is still a beautiful woman and, even after more than forty-eight years of marriage, I still fancy her!

So what makes the difference? Permit me to come at the question from a slightly different direction. If I were to stand my wife, as she is now, beside (for example) Jaclyn Smith, as she was when she played the part of one of "Charlie's Angels", and judge them against one another, in a totally objective fashion, then there is no doubt that the early Jaclyn Smith would win the contest. But it's that word "objective" that makes the difference.

You see, I don't look at my wife in an objective fashion. I look at her through the eyes of love. If I look at Jaclyn Smith, as she was (or any of the others in that batch of women) I am, if I am totally honest with myself, looking through the eyes of lust! However, I might say that I don't love my wife, today, because of how she looks. Rather, she looks to me as she does, because of my love for her! Do you understand the difference?!

We may use that situation as an analogy. When Almighty God looks at me, just as I am, He cannot see anything in me that He would find "attractive". Yet I am assured that He loves me, with "... an everlasting love." (Jer. 31:3). I am assured that "... God so loved the world [that includes me - and you!] that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have [note the present tense!] eternal life." (John 3:16). I am assured "... that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate [me] from the love of God in Christ Jesus [my] Lord." (Rom 8:38-39).

He looks at me, not objectively, but through the eyes of love! But how can this be? It's simply because, in repentance and faith, I have accepted the salvation that the Christ Whose miraculous incarnation we have just celebrated, won for me on the cross of Calvary when "For [my] sake He [the Father] made Him [the Son] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him [I] might become the righteousness of God." (II Cor 5:21; emphasis added). It's nothing of 'me'; it's all of Him!

As we approach the end of this year of grace, and anticipate the beginning of a new year, how does Father God see you? Is He able to look at you, and see that your sins are forgiven because of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus? Or are you living in your sin - perhaps trying to win God's favour by what you consider to be 'good deeds'? 

Many, many years ago, I made the only "new year resolution" that I have managed to keep for more than a few months. It was the simple resolution that I would no longer make new year resolutions! However, if you still do so, and you are not yet in that personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, through the indwelling power of God the Holy Spirit, may I encourage you to come to Him - "... Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2).  

He is waiting; He is willing to receive you. Will you come to Him, today? If I may be of any assistance, please feel free to use the e-mail address at the top of the page; or send a contact e-mail address as a comment (that will not be published!); or check out some of the links further down the page. The one thing you must not do is nothing! "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II Cor 6:2); "... how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" (Heb 2:3). 

On a starry night.

Just over a week ago, I watched a video-clip from the town of Nazareth, with a count-down to midnight on Dec.24th, and a massive display of fireworks. I don't know how many people were gathered together to celebrate, but it looked as if there were many thousands.

Now, apart from the fact that Jesus was not born on December 25th - type "When was Jesus really born" in the search engine box at the top-left, to read the post on the topic from last year! - there are other significant differences between that scene from modern Nazareth, and the event that took place, more than 2,000 years ago, in Bethlehem.

First of all, Bethlehem was not packed with thousands of onlookers! Oh, it is true that the town was overcrowded because of the census that had been declared. That, we are informed, was why there was no proper accommodation for the man Joseph and his young, heavily pregnant wife, Mary. However, those who were there were so because of the Imperial Decree. They certainly were not awaiting fireworks and a load of razzmatazz!

Not that the skies were silent over Bethlehem! Those shepherds, watching their flocks on the hills above the town, could vouch for that! That is the second difference. No fireworks, but an angelic messenger, quickly accompanied by "... a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!'" (Luke 2:13-14). Oh, and please don't be misled by popular Christmas cards, or nativity plays! These were no little cherubs, in white gowns, and with golden curls above rosy cheeks! The words "the heavenly host" refer to the armies of heaven! These were mighty warriors - quite possibly bearing weapons! - who were glorifying the Creator of all that exists.

Today, of course is, for so many, just the final shopping day for the last-minute Christmas gift. I was in a shop (just browsing!!) earlier today. There was, of course, music playing. I heard what I have to say was the most excruciating rendition of "O come, all ye faithful" that I have ever had the misfortune to hear! Even the shop assistant from whom I sought some advice agreed! However, I wondered just how many of those in the shop were even the least bit interested in adoring the One Who came into this sinful world in order to die for the salvation of all who will come to Him, in repentance (sadly so seldom mentioned, today, in even good evangelical fellowships - yet of the utmost importance!) and faith, and accept that He has already done for them, what they can never do for themselves.

You see, Christmas, wonderful although it is, is only the beginning of a greater story. Because that Infant Who was laid in a manger became the Christ Who hung on a cross. It was there that He paid the penalty that you and I deserved to pay. He paid a debt He did not owe, because we owe a debt we cannot pay.

In the midst of all of the fun and festivity that so many of us will enjoy, may I ask for two things?  May I ask that you give some thought to all of those who are spending their first Christmas-time without a particular loved one; those who are alone; those who are part of that vast number that we refer to, collectively, as "the persecuted church", and who are unable to celebrate as we do? May I also ask you to give thought to the One Whose birth we celebrate. It's become something of a cliché, but He really is "the Reason for the season"!

May I also wish you - if you are reading this in time! - a very happy Christmas, during which you come to appreciate a little more, what Almighty God, in His great love, has done for us, in Jesus.

Blessings, and shalom.

The best-laid plans ...!

It was the Scots Bard, Robert (Rabbie) Burns who, in his poem "To a mouse" states that "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley" (No matter how carefully we plan, be we mice or man, those plans often go awry). These past couple of days have certainly proved the truth of that comment in our own situation!

We left home, early on Monday morning, to head north for our annual visit to family and friends, in Scotland, for Christmas and the New Year. We were also towing the Eriba caravan that we had been unable to register, and that had been sold in the UK. The action of "Les Gilets Jaunes" (the Yellow Vests) has lessened, so we had very little delay 'on the road'. Our first overnight stop was in Orleans and, the next morning we headed up to our familiar watering-hole in Arques. 

So far, so good. It was on Wednesday that the 'fun' began! We left Arques to drive the 35 km to the port of Calais, to board the ferry that would take us to Dover. As we drove into the port area, my wife discovered that her passport was not in the pouch in which both are usually kept. Panic!!! We drove to the parking area, and searched everywhere else that we could think of. No passport! My poor wife was frantic, and blamed herself for the situation. However, we were discovering (not for the first time, I must add) that "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley"

The decision was made to return home. We left some of our luggage in the Eriba, and headed south. After about 50 km, my wife wondered if she had checked some of the bags carefully enough - so we went back to Calais. Definitely no passport. Head south again - with stops only for some food, and for 'comfort breaks'. We arrived home about 0130, Thursday. Five hours sleep, then attempts to change the booking on the ferry to Friday. P&O were sympathetic, but as we had booked through Direct Ferries, they could do nothing. DF are in the UK, so there office didn't open until 1000, French time. We set off, back up the road, managing to have the booking changed - we were grateful for the mobile 'phone!

Of course, we also had appointments made, and visits arranged, in the UK - not least the return of the Eriba. Countless other text-messages were sent back and forward. We arrived back in Dover at about 2330, and managed a few hours sleep in the caravan before boarding the ferry, and heading to Dover - two days later than we had intended. All the forward planning was, effectively, for nothing. "The best-laid plans ... ...!

However, the situation, and Burns' words, set me thinking - isn't it wonderful that, although our plans so often get turned upside-down, God's plans are always fulfilled. Right at the beginning, when man's disobedience allowed sin to enter the perfect world that God had created, Almighty God made it clear that He already had a plan. In the first of what are referred to as "Messianic passages", He says to the serpent: "... cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Gen. 3:14-15). This is acknowledged as a reference to the Lord Jesus, the incarnate God, whose coming into the world, "... at the right time ..." (Rom.5:6; see Gal.4:4), we celebrate next week.

The Tanakh (the Old Testament) is filled with prophecies that Almighty God has made - and countless numbers of them have already been fulfilled. I shan't go into any others here, but it doesn't require too much basic research to discover many of them!

So the Bard was right - but only as far as mice and men are concerned! When it comes to the Creator of all that exists, His plans are perfect, and they are fulfilled. Indeed, there are prophecies that are being fulfilled in our own time, even as the Lord Jesus was asked by the Jewish religious leaders if He was indeed, Messiah, simply because they were expecting Messiah to appear at that time, in accordance with prophetic utterances. Of course, they were looking for the wrong kind of Messiah!

It was a simple mistake that led to the disruption of our plans; other plans may be disrupted for countless other reasons. But let us be thankful that "God is working His purpose out as year succeeds to year" (A.C.Ainger), and rejoice that His faithfulness is so great!

Loving others.

Mankind is, by its fallen nature, selfish. The philosophy of life of so many is expressed in the words of the world's first murderer: "...am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen.4:9). In our contemporary situation, we may hear: "I'm alright, Jack; I do not care for you!"; "You have to put yourself first!"; "I'm looking after No.1!"

Of course, this is not the pattern for anyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus, the Christ. As we grow in grace, we should begin to think more of others, and less of ourselves. Paul writes: "... let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; " (Rom 15:2-3).

I recently read the story of two soldiers who had just been released from a prison camp in Siberia, at the end of the Second World War. "We did our best," an officer later reported, "to repatriate the men as quickly as possible, but many were still there when the winter ice threatened to close the port."  Only a limited number could board the last small boat. Among those who were awaiting transport were two soldiers who had been mates right through the war. One of them was selected to leave, but the other was one who would have to be left behind. Because of the space limitations, the order was given that those who were leaving could bring with them only one kit-bag. 

The heart of the man who was chosen went out to his comrade-in-arms. He immediately emptied his kit-bag of its prized souvenirs and his few personal belongings, and told his companion to get into the canvas sack. Then, carefully lifting the bag on to his shoulders, he boarded the vessel with his friend. Just one kit-bag - but a very precious content! This was a man who truly loved beyond himself.

As the Christmas season rapidly approaches, many of us remember that the One Who was born in Bethlehem, some 2,000 years ago, was not an ordinary infant. He was Almighty God Incarnate (in the flesh). "Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; Hail! the incarnate Deity." He grew up; was recognised as a rabbi (teacher); spoke words of love and encouragement to many - and words of challenge and condemnation to others!; was put through mockeries of trials; declared to be guilty; crucified, and entombed. Why? that is a question on which I have preached on a number of occasions. However, one simple answer is that He went through all of that for you, and for me. He " ... bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness." (I Peter 2:24). He put you, and me, first. That should be the goal of each of us. His is the great example.

As most of us enjoy the coming celebrations, let us be careful to think of others as well as of ourselves. Let us remember that the Child in the manger, became the Christ of the cross - and let us worship and adore Him as is His right.

Are screens affecting our children’s brains?

Each day, Monday to Friday, I receive an e-mail from Dr Jim Denison, a trusted author and subject matter expert in areas where faith and current events intersect. His Daily Article provides leading insight for discerning today’s news from a biblical perspective.  Today's article deserves as wide an audience as possible, and only takes about four minutes to read. It is published here with permission.

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"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been studying the effect of screen time for children. The preliminary results are in and they’re not good.

The NIH report shows that nine- and ten-year-old children who spend more than two hours in front of a screen each day score lower on thinking and language tests. This is troubling since the average “tweenager” spends up to six hours a day on their tablet or phone.

In addition, scientists have found that children with daily screen usage of more than seven hours show premature thinning of the brain cortex. This is the outermost layer that processes information from the physical world. While it’s too soon to know with certainty that screen time usage caused the changes to the children’s brains, scientists will be monitoring this relationship carefully.

Are your children addicted to technology?

The NIH report is just one example of the growing effect of technology on our children. Another study related smartphone use by children to sleep deprivation and other problems associated with poor attention spans. This is alarming since two-thirds of children take their smartphones to bed with them.

One group of scientists found that the more time four-year-olds spent interacting with media, the shorter their sleep was at ages four and six. A study published by Harvard Medical School has shown that blue-tinged light emitted by devices such as smartphones and tablets suppresses the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone vital to good sleep.

Counselors warn that digital addiction is a growing problem. The compulsion to continue playing video games or using technology is escalating. China has identified internet addiction as one of its main public health risks. In some parts of Asia, digital addiction rates may be as high as 26 percent.

Among American children between the ages of eight and eighteen, around 8 percent could already be classified as addicted. A 2010 study found that children in this age group spend more than seven hours a day consuming media.

Experts warn that victims of digital addiction can experience “destructive dependence, extreme change of personality, isolation, and physical signs during withdrawal.” It’s not surprising that researchers encourage parents to limit and monitor their children’s screen time.

Practical ways to manage technology

In The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, Andy Crouch offers practical commitments parents can make to help their children and family manage technology. Among them:

• Turn off technology one hour a day, one day a week, and one week a year.
• Use screens for a purpose and together rather than aimlessly and alone.
• Dedicate car time to conversation with no technology.
• Be sure spouses have each other’s passwords and parents have complete access to their children’s devices.

I would add this: community is vital to our souls. We were made to do life together. Every image of the church in the New Testament is collective–a vine with many branches, a body with many parts.

By contrast, technology isolates us. For every family that plays a video game together, there are multitudes of children (and parents) who play them alone. A computer or handheld device is intentionally isolating. It’s hard for two people to use one keyboard or focus on the same screen.

Such isolation can be devastating.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that loneliness undermines health and is linked to early mortality. It is worse for longevity than being obese or physically inactive.

While technology can foster a sense of community through social media, it’s no substitute for in-depth personal relationships. Nothing replaces spending time with those we love. A screen is not a parent.

“We are familiar with his evil schemes”

Here’s the bottom line: God intends parents to be the pastors of their families. We cannot delegate their souls to their teachers at school, ministers at church, or friends online.

Fathers are told to “bring [children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We are to value our children as “a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3).

One of the many reasons I admire the Jewish culture is its commitment to the home and family. The father is responsible for teaching the Torah to his children. The parents are responsible for modeling Jewish faith and culture. The survival and prosperity of the Jewish people across forty centuries are largely due to this passionate commitment of each generation to the next.

The family is God’s invention and design for us (Genesis 1:28). But the devil hates all that God loves. If he can use technology to isolate children from their parents and infect them with pornography, violence, and digital addiction, he will.

Paul said of Satan, “We are familiar with his evil schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT). Can you say the same?"

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Kindness - it's a characteristic of love.

In the home of the Roman centurion, Cornelius, Peter shared about the Lord Jesus. One of the things that he said about Him was that "... He went about doing good ..." (Acts 10:38). Jesus was, in fact, kindness and goodness personified, for He was full of God the Holy Spirit. When the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, we too will want "... to walk in the same way in which He walked." (1 John 2:6), and spend our lives ministering to others.

Let's face it - everyone can perform some deed of kindness each day. A pleasant greeting; an expression of sympathy; a visit to a shut-in person (perhaps with a couple of cakes to go with a cup of  coffee!); even a good book passed on to gladden another's heart. A lunch shared; an errand done; a word of affection, or encouragement. These are the kinds of things that are within the power of almost everyone. Larger opportunities may not come our way, but those smaller ones are almost always to hand.

I read, recently, of an Arab who was chauffeur for a lady travelling in the Holy Land. Noticing an obviously Jewish driver experiencing difficulties with his car, and having received permission from his employer, he stopped to offer assistance. It didn't take him too many minutes to realise that he didn't have the parts necessary to get the other car moving again, so, having once more sought permission, he invited the Jewish man to ride in the front with him so that he could take him into the city where he could get further help. 

After he left the Jew at a garage, the lady expressed her surprise at the kind treatment the driver had given one who, she had supposed, was his enemy! "I didn't know that Arabs were so friendly with Jews!", she remarked. The chauffeur's reply was accompanied with a joyous smile. "Things like that don't make any difference to me since I've been converted! The Lord Jesus wants us to treat everyone as we would wish to be treated."

Now I appreciate that one does not require to be a disciple of Jesus in order to be kind. However, those of us who have become identified with Him should be so filled with His grace that we constantly overflow with compassion and consideration for others. Writing to his fellow-believers in the Galatian churches, the apostle Paul declared that: "... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;" (Gal 5:22-23). I have long contended that, if the apostle had been writing using modern punctuation marks (which he did not!), there would be a colon (:) after the word "love". You see, the word "fruit"is singular, meaning that there is only one "fruit of the Spirit". The other characteristics, I suggest, are ways by which that love is expressed! You may have noticed that one of them is "kindness"!

Will you seek to express love by acts of kindness, today? Will you? 

Saved to serve!

This morning, in my personal devotions, my reading was Matt.25:31-46. These are some of the words of the Lord Jesus concerning judgement. There is too much to share in a blog post but, perhaps, one of the most important lessons concerns behaviour. 

We read: "When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give Thee drink? And when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then He will say to those at His left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee?' Then He will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." 

What do these words say to us? May I suggest that the first thing is the certainty of His coming?  Secondly, that there will be judgement! But I want to emphasise what I see as a third lesson. If you read those verses carefully, you will notice that the charge against those who are condemned to eternal punishment does not concern what they have done, but what they have failed to do! There are sins of omission, as well as sins of commission! James writes: "Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." (4:17; my emphasis). The Westminster Divines defined "sin" as "... any want of conformity unto (omission), or transgression of (commission), the law of God." (Shorter Catechism). Not doing good is the moral equivalent of doing evil!

Of course, those who had - however unknowingly - served the Saviour (through serving others in His name) did not gain salvation by their good works! Paul makes that perfectly clear when, writing to the believers in Ephesus, he states that: "... by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (2:8-9). I have written in the margin of my Bible: "Salvation is not by works; but good works are the result of salvation." In that vein, Paul continues: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10; my emphasis). 

We do not serve to be saved - but we are certainly saved to serve!